In the late summer of 2019, concern grew for a teenager from West Memphis, Arkansas, named Zakiya Mattews. At the age of 16, she was reported missing on August 10, 2019. Initial reports from law enforcement indicated that Zakiya had run away from her home. At the time of her disappearance, she was described as a Black female with brown hair and brown eyes. She stood between five feet five inches and five feet six inches tall, and her weight was estimated to be between 150 and 160 pounds. The West Memphis Police Department was the primary agency investigating her case, and they assigned it the case number 19-03959.
As her case was shared, details were entered into national databases for missing persons in an effort to locate her safely. The National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUs, listed her case as MP65503. This system is a crucial resource that allows law enforcement, medical examiners, and the general public to access information on missing person cases.
The goal of this public-facing information was to generate leads from anyone who might have seen Zakiya or had information regarding her whereabouts. Community members and advocacy groups often share such information widely in the hope of bringing a missing child home.
Ultimately, the search for Zakiya Mattews came to a positive conclusion, as she was located and is no longer considered a missing person. While information regarding the specific date and the circumstances under which she was found are not widely available, her case is now noted as resolved. The overview of this case is one that began with a report of a runaway teen from West Memphis, leading to a period of uncertainty. Fortunately for her loved ones and community, the active search has ended with her being found.Last Seen: Aug 10, 2019
